CHICAGO FIRE Boss, Jesse Spencer on Casey’s Romantic Journey

CHICAGO FIRE’s Casey (Jesse Spencer) has had quite a romantic journey this season as he went from married (but separated), to a newly divorced man testing the dating waters.

“We started talking about [the evolution] as early as June,” CHICAGO FIRE boss Derek Haas recalls. “I was really begging Monica [Raymund (Gabby)] to come back for one episode so we could have some closure on that. As we started looking at the [rest of the] season, we went, ‘What are the emotions you go through if it wasn’t your choice?’ These kinds of things happen.”

Raymund did return for the premiere, but the bulk of the split/divorce happened with her off-screen. “We definitely didn’t want to [have Casey] pining for a character that isn’t going to be on the show, at least for the foreseeable future,” Haas says. “That would be boring, in my mind, fast. But [we needed to be] respectful of what they had for as long as they had.”

“I was glad [Monica] could come back,” Spencer adds. “It was really important. So at least there was some sense of resolution. And who knows? Maybe down the line she’ll come back again. [But right now,] I think he has moved on. Once you’ve made the decision to do it, the emotional baggage floats around for a while, but the decision to move on is the most important thing until you’re totally good.”

But the relationship was short-lived. After going through a lot in a few episode span—sleeping together, taking down a corrupt company, and surviving the midseason finale apartment fire—the duo split on amicable terms.

“It’s not like I’m saying, ‘Hey, it’s time for Casey to go right back into a relationship,’” Haas acknowledges. “This was him exploring his newfound singleness. We’ll continue to see that [over the season].”

One person Casey will lean on is Severide (Taylor Kinney), who is fresh off his own breakup. “It’s going to be like the band’s back together,” Spencer says with a laugh. “Casey and Severide are going to become like the unit they were in season 2. Through their own breakups and mishaps, they’re going to be a really solid unit. It’s been a long time. It’s time for that. The lighter moments I get to have, I really enjoy that.”